RTM Billing
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring CPT Codes & Billing Guide 2026.
A complete breakdown of Remote Therapeutic Monitoring CPT codes, reimbursement rates, eligibility criteria, and documentation requirements for 2026 Medicare billing.
CPT Codes
CPT code breakdown.
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Setup & Patient Education
Initial setup and patient education on the use of remote therapeutic monitoring equipment or software. Covers device or application provisioning, connectivity setup, and patient training on proper use for therapy outcomes monitoring. Billed once per episode of care.
Frequency
One-time (per episode of care)
Time Requirement
N/A — event-based, not time-based
Documentation Requirements
- Date of RTM setup and patient education session
- Type of monitoring device or software application provided
- Description of education provided (device/software use, data entry, troubleshooting)
- Patient or caregiver acknowledgment of training
- Therapeutic condition being monitored and monitoring objectives
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Device Supply — Respiratory System
Supply of a remote therapeutic monitoring device for respiratory system monitoring with scheduled recordings or programmed alerts. Requires a minimum of 16 days of data collection within a 30-day period. Used for conditions such as COPD, asthma, and post-respiratory therapy monitoring.
Frequency
Monthly (per 30-day period)
Time Requirement
Minimum 16 days of data within 30-day period
Documentation Requirements
- Device type and description of respiratory monitoring capability
- Daily data transmission log showing dates and recordings
- Evidence of 16+ days of data within the billing period
- Respiratory condition being monitored (e.g., COPD, asthma)
- Type of therapeutic data collected (e.g., inhaler adherence, peak flow, symptoms)
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Device Supply — Musculoskeletal System
Supply of a remote therapeutic monitoring device for musculoskeletal system monitoring with scheduled recordings or programmed alerts. Requires a minimum of 16 days of data collection within a 30-day period. Used for conditions such as post-surgical rehabilitation, chronic pain management, and physical therapy outcomes tracking.
Frequency
Monthly (per 30-day period)
Time Requirement
Minimum 16 days of data within 30-day period
Documentation Requirements
- Device type and description of musculoskeletal monitoring capability
- Daily data transmission log showing dates and recordings
- Evidence of 16+ days of data within the billing period
- Musculoskeletal condition being monitored (e.g., post-TKA, chronic back pain)
- Type of therapeutic data collected (e.g., range of motion, exercise adherence, pain levels)
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Treatment Management — First 20 Minutes
Clinical time spent reviewing, interpreting, and acting on remote therapeutic monitoring data. Requires a minimum of 20 minutes of interactive communication with the patient or caregiver during the calendar month. Covers data analysis, therapy adjustments, and patient engagement for therapy outcomes optimization.
Frequency
Monthly (per calendar month)
Time Requirement
Minimum 20 minutes of clinical staff time per calendar month
Documentation Requirements
- Total time spent on RTM treatment management activities
- Description of therapeutic data reviewed and clinical interpretation
- Record of interactive communication with patient/caregiver (date, duration, mode)
- Therapy adjustments or modifications based on monitoring data
- Updated treatment plan reflecting data-driven decisions
- Credentials of the clinical staff performing the service
Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Treatment Management — Each Additional 20 Minutes
Each additional 20 minutes of clinical time spent on RTM treatment management beyond the initial 20 minutes billed under 98980. Cannot be billed without first billing 98980 in the same calendar month.
Frequency
Monthly (per calendar month, requires base 98980)
Time Requirement
Each additional 20 minutes beyond initial 98980 time
Documentation Requirements
- Cumulative time log showing total minutes exceeding 20-minute threshold
- Itemized activities performed during additional time
- Clinical justification for extended therapeutic monitoring management
- Continued interactive communication documentation
- Reference to base 98980 claim for the same billing period
Eligibility
Patient eligibility.
Patient must have a qualifying condition (respiratory, musculoskeletal, or cognitive) requiring therapy outcomes monitoring
Monitoring must use an FDA-cleared device or software application
Patient consent must be obtained and documented prior to initiating services
RTM can monitor non-physiologic data (e.g., pain levels, therapy adherence, medication response, functional status)
The ordering practitioner must establish a treatment plan with therapeutic monitoring objectives
RTM is available to a broader range of practitioners than RPM, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists
Avoid These
Common billing mistakes.
Confusing RTM device codes (98976/98977) with RPM device code (99454) — RTM monitors therapeutic/non-physiologic data, RPM monitors physiologic data
Billing both 98976 (respiratory) and 98977 (musculoskeletal) for the same patient in the same 30-day period — only one device supply code per patient per period
Not documenting therapy outcomes or treatment adjustments based on the monitoring data
Billing 98981 without a corresponding base 98980 claim in the same calendar month
Using RTM codes for physiologic monitoring (blood pressure, glucose) that should be billed under RPM
Not meeting the 16-day data transmission requirement for 98976 or 98977
Compliance
Compliance notes.
RTM is available to a broader set of providers than RPM — qualified healthcare professionals including PTs, OTs, and SLPs can order and bill RTM services
RTM and RPM can be billed for the same patient if monitoring different data types (therapeutic vs. physiologic)
Only one device supply code (98976 or 98977) can be billed per patient per 30-day period
RTM data can include patient-reported outcomes (e.g., pain scales, symptom surveys) collected through FDA-cleared software, unlike RPM which requires device-generated physiologic data
CMS has indicated that RTM devices include software applications and digital therapeutics, expanding the definition beyond hardware devices
Treatment management time (98980/98981) must include interactive communication — passive data review alone does not qualify
FAQ
Common questions.
What is the difference between RTM and RPM?
RPM monitors physiologic data (blood pressure, weight, glucose, SpO2) using FDA-cleared medical devices, while RTM monitors non-physiologic therapeutic data (therapy adherence, pain levels, medication response, functional status) using FDA-cleared devices or software. RTM has separate CPT codes (98975-98981) and is available to a broader range of providers, including physical therapists and occupational therapists, who cannot bill RPM codes.
Can RTM and RPM be billed for the same patient simultaneously?
Yes, RTM and RPM can be billed for the same patient in the same month, provided they are monitoring different types of data. For example, a patient with COPD could have RPM for pulse oximetry monitoring (physiologic) and RTM for inhaler adherence and symptom tracking (therapeutic). The device supply and treatment management time must be separately documented for each service.
Can physical therapists bill for RTM services?
Yes, RTM is specifically designed to be accessible to a broader range of qualified healthcare professionals, including physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs), and speech-language pathologists (SLPs). This is a key distinction from RPM, which is limited to physicians and certain other qualified healthcare professionals. PTs can order, furnish, and bill for RTM services related to musculoskeletal therapy outcomes.
Why can't 98976 and 98977 be billed together for the same patient?
CMS limits RTM device supply to one code per patient per 30-day period. A patient can receive either respiratory system monitoring (98976) or musculoskeletal system monitoring (98977), but not both simultaneously. If a patient has both respiratory and musculoskeletal conditions requiring monitoring, the provider should select the device supply code corresponding to the primary therapeutic focus for that billing period.
What types of software qualify as RTM devices?
CMS has broadly interpreted RTM 'devices' to include FDA-cleared software applications, digital therapeutics, and mobile health applications — not just physical hardware. Qualifying software must collect and transmit therapeutic data such as pain assessments, therapy exercise completion, medication adherence logs, or cognitive function metrics. The software must be FDA-cleared (not just commercially available wellness apps) and must support programmed alerts or scheduled data collection.
More Billing Guides
Other billing guides.
RPM Billing Guide
Remote Patient Monitoring enables clinicians to monitor patient health data collected via FDA-cleared devices outside of traditional clinical settings. RPM is reimbursed through a set of CPT codes covering device setup, ongoing data transmission, and clinical time spent reviewing and acting on the data.
CCM Billing Guide
Chronic Care Management provides reimbursement for the non-face-to-face care coordination services delivered to Medicare patients with multiple chronic conditions. CCM covers the development and management of comprehensive care plans, medication reconciliation, and coordination across providers and community services.
PCM Billing Guide
Principal Care Management provides reimbursement for care management services focused on a single high-risk chronic condition. PCM is designed for patients who need intensive management of one complex condition rather than the multi-condition coordination provided by CCM. It is particularly suited for conditions requiring frequent monitoring and treatment adjustments.
BHI Billing Guide
Behavioral Health Integration supports the assessment and management of behavioral health conditions within primary care settings through a psychiatric collaborative care model. BHI enables primary care providers to deliver behavioral health services — including depression screening, anxiety management, and substance use disorder monitoring — with psychiatric consultation support.